2024-2025 Inaugural Cohort of ENACT Research and Advocacy Fellows
Ten Brandeis students were selected to serve as Brandeis' Inaugural Cohort of ENACT Research and Advocacy Fellows for the 2024-25 academic year: Maria Antonio ‘26, Jovita Bell ‘25, Happy Emmanuel ‘27, Rachel Gao ‘25, Alyssa Golden ‘26, Aviva Gornick ‘25, Vickie Hsieh ‘25, Melora Hutcheson ‘25, Gerardo Enrique Rios Ramirez ‘27, and Lev Sewald ‘26.
The ENACT Research and Advocacy Fellowship affords Brandeis students the opportunity to collaborate with a group of their peers to engage in on campus research followed by an on campus change project. Together, the cohort explored themes of access and ultimately create events and/or awareness raising efforts to enact data driven change in their community. Students also learned about state level policy and ways in which they could advocate for state, local, and institutional policies.
They conducted research under the mentorship of ENACT Assistant Director of Research Charlotte Powley, and together, Fellows implemented a change project on campus linked to the research.
“I am so excited to work with this very first cohort of Research and Advocacy Fellows,” says Powley. “They are all amazing scholars and passionate about change. I look forward to supporting students in creating a sense of community as we work together on a common mission.”
Maria Antonio is majoring in Economics, International Global Studies, and French, set to graduate in 2026. Maria is an international student from Brazil who moved to the U.S. to finish high school and pursue her undergraduate education. She is very involved on campus, and has worked as an Editor at the Brandeis Law Journal, a Treasurer at the Brazilian Students Association (BRASA), Community Advisor at Massell, and ESL Volunteer at the Language Empowering Action Project (LEAP). Maria became a Fellow to make an impact on the community by developing projects that create positive change and doing research to acknowledge what Brandeis truly needs!
Jovita Bell graduated in the spring of 2025 with a major in Neuroscience. She is from Decatur, Georgia. Jovita became a Fellow to address issues on campus and start the process to make a change on campus.
Happy Emmanuel, a prospective double major in Economics and IGS (International and Global Studies), with a minor in Legal Studies, is expecting to graduate in 2027. Happy is originally from Atlanta, Georgia. She was eager to engage with this opportunity as it aligns with her passion for advocacy and community involvement. Happy became a Fellow to collaborate with everyone involved and gain valuable insights while contributing to positive change.
Rachel Gao is from Queens, New York. She graduated in 2025, double majoring in Politics and Anthropology, and minoring in Legal Studies, International and Global Studies (IGS), and Social Justice and Social Policy (SJSP). Rachel became a Fellow to conduct research and collaborate with other ENACT fellows to make tangible change on campus.
Alyssa Golden hails from Southern California and plans to eventually attend law school. Alyssa is studying Anthropology with minors in Legal Studies and Hispanic Studies. Alyssa felt fortunate to be part of ENACT'S first Research and Advocacy Fellowship cohort, utilizing social science research in order to effectuate positive social change.
Aviva is from Los Angeles, California. She graduated in 2025 with majors in sociology and politics and a minor in business. Aviva is passionate about policy research that focuses on providing actionable insights within a designated community. She became a Fellow to be part of a dedicated research cohort centered around creating tangible, positive change as a result of group-oriented legislative research and policy analysis.
Vickie Hsieh is from Taipei, Taiwan. She graduated in 2025 with majors in HSSP and Anthropology. Vickie became a Fellow to develop her research and advocacy skills further and to meet new people on the team.
Melora Hutcheson is from Daytona Beach, FL, and Tucson, AZ. She graduated in 2025 with a major in Sociology and a minor in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. Melora became a Fellow to provide her with the opportunity to further develop her research skills, as well as continue engaging and connecting within different communities, implementing social justice values, and making an impact where necessary.
Gerardo Enrique Rios Ramirez, class of 2027, intends to major in Business with a minor in Psychology. He became a Fellow to meet new people and expand his network all while paving the way for a Brandeis with better access to resources.
Lev Sewald (class of 2026) is a History and NEJS major and a Russian minor. Lev is originally from Seattle. While attending college is an incredible opportunity, it also often separates non-local students from their home network of support. Lev became a Fellow to help lessen this issue for peers by improving student access to resources while at Brandeis.